Award-winning edible art on display at Minamoto Kitchoan

In Japan, just because something is edible doesn’t necessarily mean it’s for consumption. The country’s long history of sweet edible arts includes a tradition rooted in the Edo Period (early 17th to late 19th centuries) that presents confections strictly as a feast for the eyes.

Minamoto Kitchoan, a Japan confectionery that has expanded across the globe, presents one such award-winning work at its Ala Moana Center location. It’s a lavish feast, boasting 12,000 handmade pieces that took a four-member team of craft workers a year to produce.

The 12-by-6-foot piece comprises three sculptures: two large, ornate flower arrangements flanking a nature scene of quetzals, reputed to be among the most beautiful birds in the world, perched on wood stumps.

Every item in the sculptures, from each bird feather and flower petal to the wood pieces, scattered grains of sand and even wood moss, was made with edible materials. Petals feature gradations in color and delicate clusters of stamen; multitudes of leaves bear meticulous attention to veining and textured edges. Edible bird feathers mimic the fluffiness of the real thing, and the complex overlapping of the various hued feathers reflects the artistry of nature in all its glory.

The work won the Honorary President Award at Japan’s 27th National Confectionary Exposition, competing against 173 pieces.

Kitchoan’s edible-art staff members have special certification to create such works, and they spend their time exclusively doing just that. The team creates seasonal window displays for the Japan stores and pieces for special events. They also supply the company’s edible art museums in Kamakura and Okayama.

“We’re a confectionary company, but we’re not just selling merchandise,” said Yayoi Akana, a director for the Hawaii stores. “We want to share the culture, and we wanted to share it with Hawaii.”

That generosity required a notable commitment of time and resources. The craft workers traveled to Hawaii along with their artwork, which was disassembled and packed in small boxes — “each piece is delicate” — then reassembled by them over two days.

“The quetzal is said to be a rare bird, so if you spot one, you’re considered lucky. We wanted to share that luck with Hawaii,” Akana said.

Minamoto Kitchoan’s edible art exhibit runs through Jan. 7 at its Ala Moana Center store during mall hours. The store is located near Centerstage on the street level. Call 947-0870.